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Tne Pledging of Polly 



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Copyright N° . 



COFlfRlGHT DEPOSnV 



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The Pledging of Polly 



A Farce in Two Acts 



By ABBY BULLOCK 

mid 
MARGARET CURRIER LYON 

Author of ''The Fisit of Obadiah;' etc. 



BOSTON 

WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 
1909 



The Pledging of Polly -r^c^ 4 3 r^ 

CHARACTERS ^'^9X>^'^ j 

(As originally produced by the *' Upsilon Sigma,^^ Providence ^ 
R. I., June 3, igog.) 

Nan Carrington, liostess of the Nu Pi 
House Party y gay, impulsive, irrespon- 
sible ; tries to make people have a good 
time, but always does and says the 
wrong thing ..... 

Eleanor Wood, President of Nu Pi, 
practical, unobtrusive, ahvays around 
whe?i wa?ited ..... 

Patty Swift, slangy, athletic girl . 

Minerva Cabot, the ^' grind'' ; nose al- 
ways in a book .... 

Charlotte Mason, sarcastic ; blase 

Grace Brownell, the " goaf ; fresh, 
awkward, 7neddli?ig .... 

Dorothy Emerson, sentimental and in- 
sipid 

Peggy Leffingwell, graceful and artis- 
tic ...... . Beatrice Harris, 

Harriette Harrington j U. Psi Twins 

Henriette Harrington \ unsophisti- 
cated and inseparable 

Mary Whittier, of Western, with a 
keen sense of honor ; devoted to Mary 
Whittaker . . • . . 

Mary Whittaker, Assistant I^istructor 
of English at JVester?t, young and at- 
tractive, with a keen sense of humor 

Any number of extra Nu Pi girls may be introduced as non 
speaking parts. 



Faith Hull. 

Elizabeth Saunders. 
Maud Tucker. 

Bertha Buffington. 
Arline Field. 

Agnes Jo7ias. 

Anna Godding, 



Ruth Homer. 
Marion Luther, 



Martha Spink. 



Margaret Westcott. 




Copyright, 1909, by Walter H. Baker & Co 
©CI.D 17H>- 



TMP92-008738 



The Pledging of Polly 



ACT I 

SCENE.— ^//^//^;^ of the Nu Fi house. Door at l., leads di- 
rectly outdoors. Door atR., to front of house. Si/ik r. front. 
Stove R. c. back. Table l. c. back. Table L. front. Chair 
7iear sink. Chair near table, l. Chair near table back. 
Chair l. back. Plates on back of stove. Supplies piled on 
both tables. Nu Pi banner conspicuous on table back. Un- 
cooked roast on shelf above sink. Package of sausages on 
table, L. 

( When curtain goes up, Nan is at the stove with griddle in 
her hand. Brownie at table back, ruf?i?7iagi?ig amo?ig 
supplies. Charlotte in chair, l., doing nothing.) 

Nan. Brownie, quick, come out of that cake box ! Hurry 
and help me with this griddle cake. It's so heavy I can't 
turn it ! 

Brownie {turning quickly and knocking saucer off on floor. 
Goes toward stove saying with mouth full). Good cake. 
'1 bo bad won't be enough to go round. I'll eat the rest myself 
after supper. 

Chaklotte. It's a pity you didn't think to butter the grid- 
dle. It's too late now. 

Nan {burns hand scraping griddle cake off on dish at back 
of stove. Crosses to sink, and Brownie instantly starts to eat 
griddle cake). Ow ! I've burned my hand. How can I cook 
anything more? 

Char. Don't cook any dinner for Brownie. She's havine 
hers ! ^ 

Nan {at sink, runnitig zvater over burned ha?id, sees the un- 
cooked roast on shelf). Oh, girls, we've forgotten to put in 
the roast, and they've nearly finished the soup already ! 

{Crosses with roast to stove.) 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 



Enter Eleanor, r. 



Eleanor. How about the rest of the dinner? You can 
hear the animals roaring now. {Sees ^k^ just puttmg roast in 
oven.) Nan Carrington ! it's no use putting that in now, it's 
half-past soup time. 

Char. It's a bit too late to cook anything. Let's follow 
that charming Japanese custom and serve them with raw fish. 

Nan {searching on table). There isn't a fish among the 
supplies. Not even an eel ! 

El. I have it ! Just the thing ! Quick, Brownie, bring 
me that package. {Poiiits table.) No, the big one ! Nan, 
put the griddle back on the stove. {Undoes package arid holds 
up lofig string of sausages.) There, we'll give them ground- 
hog ! 

(Nan cooks sausages with El.'s help.) 

Char. We can be thankful that our guest of honor hasn't 
yet come. Nice impression she'd have, and a lot she'd seethe 
advantages of being a Nu Pi. 

El. Why do you suppose she hasn't come? 

Char. It may be so much the better for us if she never ap- 
pears. {Meaningly.) Does any one know why she left 
Western ? 

Brownie. Hooray ! a scandal ! 

El. Be still, Brownie. If she sees the error of her ways 
and comes to Eastern, she is all right anyway. And besides, 
you know what a record for scholarship she has made at West- 
ern during the three years she has been there. If she will have 
us, we will have her. 

Nan. Good for you, Eleanor ! 

Char. It's quite like the Nu Pis to vote a girl in before 
they even see her, and I must say that a girl with any brain 
power wouldn't be exactly — congenial ? 

Nan. Why, Charlotte, the only reason we want her is to 
bring up our scholarship average a little. We had our second 
warning from the faculty only a week ago that if the Nu Pi 
standards weren't raised before exam time, our chapter would 
be taken away. Don't you see that we must take in somebody 
with brains whether we want her or not ? 

{Gesticulates with sausage on fork.) 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 5 

Brownie {licking her fingers'). What's her name? I 
forget. 

Nan. Mary Whittier — isn't that cute? We will call her 
Polly, and 

Char. And — there is something burning ! 

El. The potatoes, probably. Nan put them in as soon as 
we came this morning, didn't she? 

{Takes the?n out and puts them in dish, Brownie helping her.) 

Char. The motto for those potatoes should be '' Whatever 
is worth doing is worth doing well." 

Girls {shouting in unison from off stage). We — want — our 
— dinner ! 

Nan {hurriedly). Brownie, bring me the platter ; they're 
done as much as there's time for. 

El. Put a couple on this plate, and we'll leave it in the 
oven to keep hot for the little stranger. 

(Exeunt, r., Nan with platter of sausages, El. with potatoes 
and loaf of bread. Char, with hands behind her back.) 

Brownie {at oven). Polly What's-her-name may not come 
till the eight o'clock train. This would be dried up by then; 
I'll eat it myself and save all waste and anxiety. Me for a 
quiet corner ! \_Exit, r. 

E titer L., Mary Whittaker, rain coat dripping, umbrella, etc. 
Cheer from dinitig-room : ^^ Ki-yi I Ki-yi ! Ki-yi ! 
Ground-hog ! ' ' 

Polly {looking around, sees Nu Pi banner). This is the 
Nu Pi house party all right. I don't like to interrupt them at 
dinner, but the sooner I get hold of Mary Whittier the better ! 
She must have been here all the afternoon, and goodness knows 
whether or not I can persuade her now to come back to Western 
with me. {Looks at letter luhich she has had in her hand.) 
Her letter sounds so decisive, too. {Reads envelope.) ** Miss 
Mary Whittaker, Assistant in English Department, Western." 
{Opens and reads letter, sitting in. chair.) '* Dearest Polly : 
I can't bear to say good-bye to you in person, so I am writing 
this note to tell you that I have decided to leave Western. I 
have always felt the lack of sororities here, but this has been 
impressed so forcibly upon me of late that I am leaving for 
Eastern where the comradeship among the girls through the 



6 THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

sororities is an essential part of the college life. If you want to 
make things a little easier for me, send me a word or two of 
forgiveness, and say that you understand my position. My ad- 
dress will be care of the Nu Pi House Party, Greenville. 
Yours as always, Mary VVhittier." Why couldn't she have 
waited and talked it over with me instead of rushing off this 
way? {^Gets upfront chair and walks around.) I must see 
her and persuade her to come back to Western with me. Cun- 
ning little Mary, how I should miss her ! Oh, I must see her 
before she pledges herself! {Starts toward r.) 

Girls {shouting off stage). Brownie, you glutton i come 
back with Polly's dinner ! 

Enter r.. Brownie, in haste, with half empty plate, followed 
by all the girls except Patty. Collides with Yo\xx, jumps 
at conclusion that she is the expected guest, afid says 
coolly. 

Brownie. Don't make such a row. Can't you see I'm 
taking her dinner to her ? Here she is ! 

( Girls surround Polly, taking off her wet things and talk- 
ing all together.) 

El. ~] We're so glad you're here at last ! 

Peggy. Why were you late? 

Dorothy. I We thought you'd never come ! 

Char. Didn't Patty meet you at the station? 

Brownie J (^offering plate). Aren't you nearly starved? 

Nan (shaking hands). Indeed, we are glad to see you, 
Polly. You don't mind our caUing you that, do you ? We 
decided to before you came, and it's so much easier now we've 
seen you. {Steps hack to look her over.) Why, you don't 
look the least bit clever ! 

Polly. You didn't expect me, did you? 

Nan. Yes, we did ! Charlotte was saying just before you 
came that she knew you'd be sure to turn up {girls all nod 
assent) because we never yet had a nice cozy house party with- 
out any outsiders — oh, dear! {Girls pull her back.) I 
mean 

El. {co7}iing to rescue). Where can Patty be ? It's strange 
she missed you at the station. If she doesn't hurry she won't 
have any dinner. 

Polly. And what about Mary ? 

El. That's so, you poor child ! You haven't h^d anything 



TK£ PLEDGING OF POLLY *1 

to eat. Come right into the dining-room this instant and we'll 
look out for little Mary ! 

Polly. I must explain — you don't understand. 

Nan. No explanations from a starving woman ; eat first 

we'll talk later. 

Char. Has Brownie left anything ? 

El. We'll go and find out. Come on, girls. 

{Leads Polly reluctantly to door.) 

{Exeunt all except Nan, Dot and Minerva, the latter in 
chair reading intently.) 

Dot {arm around Nan, drawling). Oh, Nan, isn't she just 
too perfectly sweet? If she doesn't join Nu Pi I shall simply 
curl up in a corner and gently pass away. 

Nan. Dot, we must pledge her to-night. If U. Psi get 
their eyes on her before she is pledged to us, who knows but 
they may work some trick and take her away from us under 
our very noses as they did Madge Newcome. 

Dot. But they wouldn't make any hit with Polly; they 
are such awful grinds. 

Nan. That's just it. She is such a splendid student that 
they ^\\\— {draws long breath)— mdk^ a strong appeal to her 
intellectual side. 

Dot. Oh, Nan, what perfectly grand things you do say ! 

Nan. Yes, I always manage to say the right thing at the 
wrong time. It's a little way I have. 

Dot. No, you don't, you old dear, boo-boo 

{Kisses her.) 

Nan {pulling away). As for you, Dot, you never said a 
sensible thing in your life. Polly won't be the least impressed 
with either of us. 

Dot. But Minerva will impress her awfully. 

Nan {looking at M.m.). That's so ! Minerva may be unin- 
teresting and all that, but there isn't a U. Psi girl who has 
such a brain full of Latin. {Runs over to Mm.) I never be- 
fore saw why you were a Nu Pi, but this is simply providential. 
Now is a chance to show what Latin is good for. We've 
never pulled you out of your corner in rushing season before, 
but perhaps for once you may be of some use. 

MiN. {realizing suddenly that so7?ie thing is happenings 



8 TH£ PLEDGING OF POLLY 

stammers). I beg your pardon, Nancy. Were you address- 
ing me? 

Dot. Oh, Minerva, you wonderful old duck. Say you'll 
be a dear sweet obliging pet and twine around Polly's heart. 

MiN. I commence to perceive the trend of your conversa- 
tion. While I do not excel in knowledge of the intricacies of 
what is termed rushing, still as I have just finished my ex- 
haustive reading of Juvenal, and before I begin on Terence, I 
have a little time to put at your disposal. 

Dot {embracifig her). I knew you'd be a love and do it 
for us ! 

Enter l., Patty Swift, stamping and shaking off wet. 

Pat. The next time I wait around an hour and a half in 
that moth-eaten station for a mythical stranger, you'd better be- 
lieve will be never ! Why, I don't think there is such a person, 
and I'm sure there was no train and 

( Throws off coat, hat and rubbers as she speaks, flinging 
them about.) 

Dot {interrupting ; throwing her arms around Pat.'s 
neck). Oh, but there is, and she's here already, darling ! 

Pat. {disgusted, pushing Dot off). When you feel that 
way, take it outdoors ! Where is she ? the villain ! 

Nan. She isn't a villain, and you'll be crazy about her. 
Before you came in we were thinking up a grand plan to make 
her into a Nu Pi in no time. Minerva is to be our cat's paw 
— I mean our figure head. 

MiN. {looking up quickly). Oh, if it's anything to do with 
figures, I am afraid I would not be of much use. My specialty 
is the classics. 

Nan. That will do quite as well as any. You know Polly 
is an awfully brilliant sort, and Minerva is the only one of us 
who has intellectual as-pi-ra-tions. 

Dot. Oh, Nan, you use such lovely language ! 

Nan {ignoring her). So we must star Minerva and give 
her every possible chance to make an impression. 

Pat. I'm on, and I can see plainly it's up to me to keep 
myself and my slang in the background. 

Dot {e?nbracing her). You don't mind, dear, do you? 

Pat. {pushing her off). Mind ? Well, not so you'd notice 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 9 

it ! Come, Minerva, give nie some liint what sort of game it's 
to be. 

MiN. I've just been carefully considering the matter and 
have conchided to give a lecture of three or four hours on the 
literature of the Augustan period, reading selections by way of 
illustration. (^IVaxes enthusiastic.) You must all be pres- 
ent, and then Miss Whittier will not be embarrassed because 
she will not know the trouble has been taken for her especial 
benefit. 

(^During this speech Nan ajid Dot sink in chairs, Pat. 
collapses on floor. ) 

Nan {hurriedly). But I'm afraid that would be altogether 
too elaborate. We don't want to scare her, you know. 

Pat. Yes, be more informal. Talk Latin casually, and 
we'll look as intelligent as Nature permits. Don't you know 
any Latin jokes or conundrums or anything ? You could tell 
us the answers beforehand. 

Mm. That also might partake too much of the formal, the 
prearranged. Let us rely solely on the inspiration of the mo- 
ment. Observe me closely and follow my intellectual lead. 

Pat. Where are you keeping the victim now? 

Mm. Ah ! Victim indeed. Dorothea, hasten hence, and 
if she has finished her repast, lead the fair victim hither, to 
the altar. 

{Sits impressively in chair l. and opens her book.) 

Dot. All right, Minnie darling ! [Exit r.. Dot. 

Pat. Say, girls, I had a great old walk in the rain. The 
shower is almost over now. Oh, and you know when I was 
pattering along past the U. Psi house party, those greasy grinds 
were dancing and shouting ragtime at the tops of their lungs ! 
I almost paused and entered, it sounded so like home. What 
do you guess has hit them ? 

Nan. They are probably trying to entertain some poor 
candidate. No telling what girls will do in rushing season, 
even grinds ! 

Mm. Whatever we do or do not do., one thing must be un- 
derstood. As the poet says, "Nihil est quod tam deceat 
sevare constantiam " — or to translate freely, Let there be no 
frivolity to-day among the Nu Pis. 



10 THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Enter R., Dot with her arm around V0LI.Y, followed by the 
other girls. 

Dot. I've told the girls about the plot, darlings (El. tries 
to stop her), and they all say they don't know a word of 

Nan (interrupting). Oh, Patty, you must meet Mary 
Whittier, the new senior. 

Polly [deter mifiedly). But that isn't my name. 

Dot {arfn around her neck). Of course not, you sweet 
thing ; you are Polly to us. 

Polly. But 

MiN. (rising and coming toward her with great dignity ^ 
with right hand upraised in the Roman form of salutation). 
Si tu vales, bene est ; ego quoque valeo. 

Polly (starting back surprised, quickly brings her heels 
together and gives military salute). Pardon me, I didn't 
know 

MiN. See, sisters, how delighted she is at our scholarly 
congeniality. As the poet says, ''Ratio et oratio conciliant 
inter se homines," or to interpret his message personally. We 
meet you on your own level. 

Nan (eagerly). Yes, we stoop to conquer ! 

El. (pulling Nan back i7Jipatie fitly). We mustn't spend 
time talking now, with the dinner dishes to wash. It's so late, 
let's all do them together, and then we can have time to talk 
later. 

(Girls tie aprons on each other, ^ 

Polly. Do let me wash ! 

Nan. We can't have our guest working the first night. 
Sit right down in that chair (leads her to chair, l.), and rest 
while we go in the other room and stack the dishes. 

(All the girls exeunt R. , during this speech. Nan afid MiN. 
last to leave.) 

Polly. Oh, but please let me 

MiN. (at door, meaningly). "Tempori cedere semper sapi- 
entis est habitum." ^Exit Min., r. 

Polly (sinking back in chair, dismayed). If only I were 
Mary Whittier, as they think I am, I'd have some idea what 
she said about me. Well, Mary is sure to arrive sooner or 
later, and I must wait here for her ; so I might as well con- 



The pledging of Polly h 

tinue to play her part till she comes, and with her help I can 
explain tlie masquerade. Besides, if they knew I were here 
only to take Mary back to Western they wouldn't let me stay 
a mmute. As for names that Minerva calls me, they won't 
trouble mc, for I don't understand them. 

£nf^r, R., a//duf Brownie, wiU dishes, and pile them in sink. 

Mm. {to Polly, gesticulating with dish). " Longa mora 
est nobis omnis quae gaudia differt." {To girts.) Why does 
not Brownie make haste ? 

Char. She'll be here as soon as she can finish eatrng all 
that was left on the table. 

Enter Brownie, r., hurrying, trying to carry pile of plates in 
one hand white she eats cake with other. Tumbles and 
smashes dishes, but calmly sits up and finishes cake.) 

MiN. Carthago deleta est ! 

El. Never mind, girls, let's get to work 

Char. Are there enough dishes left to wash ? 
Nan. It doesn't seem worth while, does it? Let's not 
bother to do them. 

{Gets dust-pan and brush and girls help sweep up the pieces.') 

MiN. ''Vita brevis est, longa ars." Which teaches us that 
menial duties should be subordinate to art. {Pedantically ) 
In the Roman household, after the banquet came the dance. 
Let us even so make merry, but in a classic manner 

Nan. Just the thing ! Girls, Peggy has been learning the 
prettiest new dance ! 

Pat. Let's have it. 

Dot. You will dance for us, won't you, Peggy sweetheart? 

i-EG. 1 d be glad to, if you'll wait until I get into my cos- 
tume. ° ^ 

Pat. Well, rather ! Run along. 

Dot {following her to door). Oh, Peggy, you sweet, 
obliging dear ! (exU Peg., r 

MiN. Tempus fugit. We must improve the shining mo- 
ments. I am sure some of my sisters must have something of 
value to impart in the line of the classics. 

(Pat. crawls under table.) 



12 THE PLEDGING OF POLLV 

Brownie. 1 know a poem that's as classic as Julius Caesar. 
{Oraioricaily.) Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your 
ears — 

"Boyibus kissibus sweet girlorum, 
Girlibus likibus, want someraorum, 
Fathibus comibus down the stairum 
Taka the boyibus by the hairum." 

{Grabs at Mm.'s hair.) 

MiN. (chagrined). Miss Whittier, I pray you, pardon her 
frivolity. Consider her youth ! *' Teneris, heu, lubrica mori- 
bus aetas." Alas, the slippery nature of youth. But we are 
monopolizing the classics. The laws of hospitality demand an 
equal division of food for mind, as well as for body. If Miss 
Whittier would but 

Char. We've been longing for some time to have Miss 
Whittier amuse us in Latin. Some can talk {looks at Mm.), 
but few can be entertaining in that language. 

Polly. I may as well explain now, that 

Char. Don't try to be modest. We've heard how clever 
you are 

Nan {irrelevantly). You certainly must be clever, Polly. 
Why, girls, do you know I've just remembered that in the 
letter I wrote to tell her how to get here, I completely forgot to 
tell her which house it was, and she might have blundered into 
the U. Psi house party by mistake. Now, wasn't it clever of 
her to find us ? 

MiN. {severely). ''Ingenii vis prseceptis alitura," or, as I 
might put it, Clever in one thing, clever in all things. 

Char. We are eagerly waiting. Miss Whittier, to hear how 
you have improved your classical opportunities at Western. 

Polly {protesting). But you 

Dot. Polly, dear, you can't think what it would mean to 
us to hear 

Polly {desperately) . Please let me 

Pat. {coming ont from tinder table). You're in for it, 
Polly, so you may as well fire away and get it over. 

Nan. Yes, do hurry and get it over. 

Polly {subjnitting to the inevitable). I don't like to show 
off my knowledge, but I can give you an idea of how our Latin 
department at Western makes the classics real to us. 

Nan {i?tnoce?itly). Can you give the idea without showing 
off your knowledge ? 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY I3 

Char. No doubt ! 

Polly. Professor Jacobus's Objective Method is what I 
want to show you. It is quite unique, and 1 must have help 
from you all to make it clear. 

Brownie. What's objective ? 

Pat. Let her go ; you can count me in. 

MiN. I should be most proud if you would call upon me to 
assist you in your exposition. 

Polly. Indeed I shall call on you. But now I must explain 
to you the method. Professor Jacobus has us act out the classic 
myths and stories that we may absorb through every sense the 
beauty and vitality of the classics. 

Dot. What a cute idea ! 

Polly. For instance, one of his favorites is Atalanta's Race. 

MiN. Ah, yes, I know the story. Atalanta was a beautiful 
maiden who challenged all her suitors to a foot race. Those 
who lost were put to death, and none was successful until 
Hippomenes 

Brownie. I know the rest. He dropped apples, and she 
stopped to eat 'em ! 

MiN. {cabnly'). Until Hippomenes, as he raced, threw be- 
fore her the three golden apples given him by Venus, and 
Atalanta pausing to pick them up, seriatim, was overtaken and 
vanquished, thus being won by Hippomenes as his bride. 

Polly. That's all very well, but there mere book knowl- 
edge falls short. You may know it in words, but we know it 
in action. Shall I go on and illustrate Professor Jacobus's 
method to you ? 

MiN. ^ Pray do. 

Nan. I Do go on. 

Pat. r I'm from Missouri ! 

Brownie. J What comes next? 

Polly {to Mm.). You know the story. I will give you 
the part of Atalanta. You {to Brownie) know about the 
apples. You shall be Hippomenes. You two {to Char, and 
El.) shall be two suitors, vanquished and slain. Lie down 
there. {They do so unwillingly.^ Three of those doughnuts 
on the table will do nicely for the golden apples. Atalanta 
{pulling down her hair unexpectedly~), let down your flowing 
locks. Wait till I find the toga. This will do. {Drapes 
pennant over her.) Now, we are ready ! Imagine this room 
the circular race course and start when I count one, two, three 
in Latin, Atalanta first, Hippomenes following directly. Now 



14 THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

let us witness your interpretation of this beautiful old myth. 
Unus ! Duo ! Tres ! 

(MiN. aiid Brownie nm around the stage, Brownie drops a 
doughnut on two rounds as she passes front c. Mm. 
picks them up. On third round Brownie catinot bear to 
drop doughnut and taking bite, she starts for exit, l.) 

MiN. {s to ppiiig suddenly). The other apple, Hippomenes ! 
Brownie (at door l,). Come and get it ! 

S^Exit Brownie, l. 

i^All start to follotu Brownie, but give up the chase as Peg. 
in costume enters r. ) 

Dot. Peggy, dear, what a love of a costume, and how 
frightfully becoming. 

Peg. What has been happening here ? 

Polly {laughing and relieved'). We've had a proof that 
Professor Jacobus's methods, however 'original, will never 
work at Eastern. Do let us have the dance and forget the fate 
of the third golden apple. 

(Brownie sneaks in L. finishing doughnut, zmnoticed by 
girls who group themselves to watch the dance, some 
seated oti floor. Peg. dances a?td exits r. , as girls ap- 
plaud.) 

Nan. You see, Polly, we Nu Pis can be clever at some 
things. 

Dot {embracing her). You do like us a Httle, don't you, 
dearie ? 

El. We hope that you will consider us very favorably when 
you are thinking of joining a sorority at Eastern. We know 
there are no sororities as yet at Western 

Nan. So we hope you'll let the Nu Pis try to make up to 
you for what you have missed during your three years at 
Western. 

Dot. Oh, Polly, you'd make the sweetest kind of Nu Pi. 

{Knock at door l.) 
All. Sh-h-h ! ! 

(Pat. tramps across and opens door.) 
Enter T^ms carrying a sfnall tin pail between them. 

Twins {speaking together, spasmodically). Please, may we 
have some molasses ? 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY I5 

Nan {aside to Polly). It's the U. Psi twins. What can 
be going on ? 

Brownie. What do you want it for ? 

Twins {as if reciting lessoti). We hope you can spare it. 
We need it so much, we were sure you wouldn't mind. 

Brownie. I said — what's it for ? 

Twins {looking at each other^. We're going to make 
candy. We have a guest. 

Nan. U. Psi girls having a candy pull ! 

Twins. Our guest likes candy. We like our guest ! 

Char. Guest, I suppose, is short for candidate. 

Twins {looking conscious). We hope she'll be a U. 
Psi soon. We know her gaiety will brighten up our 
chapter. 

Nan. That would be nice, but is she strong? Do you 
think she can do it? 

Twins. We think she can do anything. She's so jolly and 
bright. You've no idea 1 

Brownie. What's her name? 

Twins. We call her Polly. Her name is Mary. 

Brownie. How queer ! Our new 

(El. covers Brownie's mouth.) 

Henriette. Madge says she 

Harriette {takifig t4p sentence'). She's heaps funnier 
than 

Twins. Than any of you Nu Pis. 

Char. She is, is she ? 

Twins {ingenuously). Madge says we must pledge her to- 
night. 

Hen. She says, goodness knows what 

Har. What would happen 

Twins {shaking fingers reproachfully). If you naughty Nu 
Pis ever caught sight of her. 

Nan {who has been gradually getting excited, noiv presses 
the molasses fug into Twins' hands and hurries them out amid 
protests). Hurry out quick! I hear somebody coming. 
Hustle now, you'll be much too late ! 

Twins. Whatever is the matter [^Exeunt, l. 

Pat. ^ Snappy work. 

El. I Don't break the jug. 

Brownie, j Why didn't you give them just a cup full? 
J That's all they need. 



l6 THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Char, {iirawluig). Perhaps now )ou wouldn't mind ex- 
plaining why you've been making this hideous confusion. 

Nan {taking no 7iotice of her). I've the grandest plan ! It's 
fun, and it's revenge. You know how those catty U. Psis got 
cute old Madge Newcome away from us in that mean, under- 
handed way, just as we were going to pledge her. Doesn't it 
make you furious every time you think of it, even now ? Well, 
I say 

MiN. {interrupting breathlessly). Nancy, aren't you for- 
getting that we are not exactly alone ? Of course Miss W' hittier 
is 

Polly {misunderstanding). I'd love to help, particularly 
if it's going to be a lark. 

Nan {impulsively). She is almost one of us already, aren't 
you, Polly dear? {Squeezes Polly's hand.) And 1 know 
she'd love to help us pay back those horrid U. Psis. As I was 
saying when you interrupted me {glaring at Min.), let's make 
a regular expedition against those smarties and pay back the 
Madge business by carrying oif this wonderful candidate be- 
fore their very eyes. {Excitedly.) What do you say? Can't 
we do it? Please let's ! I've quite set my heart on it. And 
think how mad and surprised every one will be ! 

El. ^{inatter-of-fact). Is it practicable ? 

Pat. Let's do it anyhow. 

Polly K {eagerly). Can't I do something? They don't 
know me. I can 

Nan. J Of course you can. Will you? I know just the 
thing. Couldn't you manage to see that candidate, and come 
back and tell us if she is attractive enough for us to risk a des- 
perate kidnapping to get her? You could sneak right up to 
the house and look through the window, you know. If the 
twins should see you, they wouldn't recognize you with your 
hat and coat on. Please say you'll do it ! 

{Seizes Polly's hands impetuously.) 

Polly. Surely. It'll be the best fun I've had since I was 
a senior at college. 

El. {puzzled). Since you were a senior? 

Polly {quickly). Since I've been a senior, of course, I 
mean. 

Pat. How are you going to do the trick? 

Polly. Just leave that to me. 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY IJ 

Char. This is leaving a great deal to a girl who's not even 
pledged to us. 

El. Couldn't we talk over the pledging matter now? You 
see, Polly 

Nan. Let's not bother about that at present; it can wait; 
that is, I mean 

Polly (anxiously). I think too that I'd better hurry off. 
(Sigtiificantly.) I am awfully anxious to get a look at this other 
Polly right away. 

(Nan, El. and Pat. rush for Polly's clothes and all help 
dress her. Great deal of confusion.) 

Nan. You'll hurry as fast as ever you can, won't you ? It's 
late now, and we've such a lot to do and plan before the U. Psis 
get to pledging their Polly. 

Polly. Don't call her their Polly, for if all goes well she 
may turn out to be my Polly. 

All. Our Pollies — our Pollies ! 

{As Polly goes out l., half walki?ig, half pushed, cries of 
" Good luck / Hurry back I Be very careful ! Don't 
let yourself be seen I Good-bye / Good-bye / ") 



CURTAIN 



ACT II 

SCENE.— Oufsid^ the U. Psi house. Time, half an 
hour late?'. A pretty outdoor scene. Trees and grass. 
House across right side of stage, with door and window 
which can be opened. Garden bench l. fro7it. 

{As curtain goes up, Nan, Min. and Brownie are stealthily 
tiptoeing toward house frojn l. back.^ 

Min. '< Omnium rerum vicissitudo est" — or, as I might 
say, the house appears deserted — abandoned. 

Nan. All the U. Psi girls gone, and not a sign of Polly ! 
I don't understand it ! 

Brownie. They've had their candy pull and gone off, and 
I don't suppose they've left a piece of candy in the house. 
We should have come sooner ! 

Nan. I told you we should. If we hadn't been so patient 
and waited half an hour for Polly to come back, we shouldn't 
have to play Sherlock Holmes now. 

Mm. '' Vivere, militare est." Sisters, I fear Polly has 
been captured and borne away. 

Nan. It's awful, girls, and the worst of it is that Polly isn't 
pledged (wails), though maybe she is by this time — to U. Psi. 

Brownie. Nonsense, she wouldn't be that ungrateful after 
all we gave her to eat. 

(Enter Pat,, k., past house.) 

Pat. (sitting on steps and shouting). I've walked all around 
the house and grounds twice, and I dare any one to find a sign 
of life with a microscope. I left Eleanor out by the back door. 
She's going home across lots. 

Girls. Sh-h-h. 

Nan. Don't talk so loud ! 

Pat. What's the difference? I have a very good idea that 
they are all off on the rivA-. There wasn't a canoe at the float 
when I sauntered past. 

Nan. We'd better explore the house, then, for who knows 
but Polly may be inside bound hand and foot. 
i8 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY I9 

Brownie. Or they may have left some candy. Come on. 
Let's go in. 

Mm. Permit me to enter first. Ego vos defendam. 

(As they all approach door, it is suddenly opened and they 
start back confused as Har. aiid Hen. come out. Har. 
carries the molasses jug, atid Hen. a letter.) 

Twins. How you surprised us ! 

Hen. We were just coming 

Har. To your house 

Twins. To return the jug. Madge told us to, and then 
we can go on the picnic with the others. 

(Hen. locks door and sooti after drops key near window.) 

Brownie. We were going by so we stopped in to see if you 
had left any of our molasses. We can take it back for you. 

{Takes jug.') 

Twins. We have a letter for Nan, besides. 

Nan. Letter for me? How odd. (Holds back.) 

Pat. Why don't you take it? 'Twon't bite ! 

Nan. Thank you. (Reluctantly takes letter.) 

MiN. " Dimidium scientise prudens qusestio." Here is an 
opportunity which must not be neglected. (To Twins, who 
have started to go. ) Leave us not so soon. Let us converse one 
with another. 

Nan. Do tell us if you've seen Pol 

Pat. (artificially, cutting her short). I was just saying to 
Nan how odd it is that there are so many strangers in town to- 
day. Have you noticed any during the last hour? 

Twins. We haven't seen any stranger since Polly came to 
us so unexpectedly. (All gasp.) 

Brownie (risi?ig to the occasion). What Polly? 

Twins. Why, you know, Polly Whittier, of course. The 
note to Nan is from her. 

(Twins titter.) 
Hen. Well, we must be going 



Har. Now we've done our errand. 
Twins. Madge says 



20 THE PLtDGING OF POLLY 

(C/wnis of '' Good-bye'' cuts them short. Twins exeunt L. 
back. Girls collapse on bench and grass, and finally 
Nan, with 7iervous fingers, opens the letter and reads 
aloud, Brownie looking over her shoulder.^ 

Nan. I had a presentiment it was something dreadful. 
[Reads.) ''Dear Miss Carrington." (/;/ despair.) She 
doesn't even call me Nan ! 

Brownie {going on with letter). "By this time you will 
realize that something must have happened to change my plans." 
It was that candy pull ! 

Pat. {taking letter). "I stopped at this house to inquire 
my way, not knowing it to be the U. Psi house party." Oh, 
why didn't we give her directions ! {Drops letter.) 

MiN. {picking it up). "And though at first detained 
against my will, I have been persuaded to remain." Oh, 
mores! Oh, tempora 1 {Drops letter.) 

Nan {pickifig it up). " While I appreciate the great kind- 
ness sliown me by Nu Pi, I have been so welcomed and made 
to feel at home here, that I must after all refuse your invitation. 
My only regret is that one cannot join two sororities. Very 
sincerely, Mary Whittier." 

(Nan bursts into tears.) 

Brownie. The hog ! 

Nan {tearing up letter and sobbing). I can't believe it of 
her. She seemed so splendid. 

Pat. It is some U. Psi trick. Polly isn't any common or 
garden traitor ! 

MiN. Sisters, I fear for our chapter. I had hoped for 
Polly's assistance in raising our scholarship. Remember the 
faculty warning. I cannot hold up our average alone. The 
blow may fall at any moment. 

Nan {still tearful). Why couldn't we have been satisfied 
with just one Polly? She was almost pledged to us. It's all 
my fault that we lost her and started on a wild goose chase 
after the other Polly. I hate myself ! 

MiN. Sisters, let us return whence we came and discuss the 
matter with Eleanor. She is so resourceful that she can doubt- 
less advise us to some advantage. 

Nan. That would be better than doing nothing. 

Pat. We'll get the crowd together and then U. Psi may 
just look out. Come on. 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 21 

{They go off l. back, except Brownie.) 

Nan. Aren't you coming, Brownie? 

Brownie. I'll be along soon. Don't wait for me. {Exeunt 
Nan, Min. , and Pat. Brownie goes to door, tries to open it 
and finds it locked.) There! that proves it. They wouldn't 
have locked the door if they hadn't left candy, maybe a whole 
panful, in the house. It was our molasses and I have a right 
to what they made of it. {Tries ivindoiv, and manages to open 
it.) Ah ! up she goes. This is almost too easy. 

{Climbs in, chuckling.) 

Enter Polly, r. front. 

Polly. I hope this is the right place at last. What a 
search I've had. The old lady said it was the U. Psi house 
party, but how quiet it all is. Not much like the Nu Pi party. 
(Looks off I., back.) Goodness ! Here come the twins. What 
a chance to find out about Mary, if they don't recognize me. 
{Enter Twins, l. back, in great agitation, and looking on the 
ground ; almost run into Polly before they see her.) Excuse 
me, have you lost something ? 

Twins {startled). Thank you ; yes, indeed ! 

Polly. I'm so sorry ; can't I help you ? What was it ? 

Hen. We locked the door 

Har. And lost the key. 

Twins. And we don't know what Madge will say. 

Polly. It may be in the yard here. Let's make a good 
search. 
. Twins. It's so kind of you to help. 

Hen. We appreciate it 

Har. Especially from a stranger, 

Polly. AVhen did you lose it ? 

Twins. Only a few minutes ago. 

Hen. We were just going to meet the girls 

Har. At the picnic. 

Twins. And help pledge Polly. 

Polly. Who is Polly ? 

Twins. How silly, of course you don't know. 

Hen. She's Mary Whittier 

Har. The new senior. 

Twins. From Western. 

Polly. Mary Whittier ! From Western ! You don't 



22 THE PLEDGING OF JPOLLY 

mean it ! Why she's the very girl the faculty at Western 
is looking for everywhere ! 

Twins {excited, forgetting key). The faculty ! 

Hen. Why ? 

Har. What for? 

Polly. I can't tell you all about it because it is Mary 
Whittier's private affair, and anyway {confidentially), you know 
it's as well to keep some things quiet. But I know the faculty 
wants her {iinpressively), about a letter which ought never to 
have been written ! 

Twins {scandalized). What will Madge say ? 

Hen. Polly seemed very nice 

Har. We all liked her. 

Twins. And the faculty is after her ! 

Polly. It's never safe to take too much for granted, and to 
jump at conclusions. 

Twins. We'll tell Madge so. 

Hen. How lucky we met you 

Har. Before it was too late. 

Twins. Just think if we'd pledged Polly. Oh ! we must 
tell Madge ! {Start to go off l.) 

Polly. It will be hard for you to tell her, won't it ? A 
mistake like that is so awkward. 

Twins {coming hack). You're so good and kind, won't you 
please come and help explain ? 

Polly. I tell you what I'll do. I'll go with you and take 
Mary off, while you explain to the others. 

(Twins put their arms around Polly and lead her off l. back.) 

Hen. Just the thing ! 

Har. Awfully sweet of you ! 

Twins. Madge will be so pleased. 

{Exeunt l. back. Just as they go off, Brownie starts to 
cli?nb out 7vifidow, and losifig her balance falls out. Sits 
up and catches sight of Polly and Twins in distance.) 

Brownie. Will you look at that ! I came out just too late. 
{Sucks candy.) Whee ! Wouldn't the girls like to be here 
now ? {Picks up the Twins' key absently and puts it in her 
pocket.) I'm not going after Polly alone and get into a mess. 
I'll just shout for help and see what happens. Oh, Nan ! Oh, 
Dot! Oh, Eleanor! {Climax.) Oh, Min-er-va ! 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 2^ 

Enter y l., all Nu Pi girls except Pat., running. 

Nan. What have you done now ? 

Peg. Anything the matter ? 

El. Why did you call us ? 

MiN. (^pulling Brownie to her feet). Child ! Get up 
from the damp ground ! 

Brownie. You wouldn't care for a little thing like damp 
ground if you knew what I've seen. 

Nan {shaking her). Tell us quickly ! 

Brownie (^/^///^f^/). You needn't shake me all up. I won't 
tell till I get ready ! 

MiN. {severely). Grace Brownell. Don't be absurd. Cease 
your obstinacy. 

Brownie {i titer rupti?ig). If you talk to me that way, 
I'll 

Peg. Oh, Brownie, I could eat you. You are so exasper- 
ating. Every minute probably counts ! 

Brownie {grimly). It does ! 

El. Brownie, if it is important, you must tell us at once. 
; Brownie. Don't you boss me 'round ! 

Dot. You always are such a duck. Don't be provoking 
now, just when you have something important to tell us. 

Char. Can't be important, or Brownie wouldn't know it. 

Brownie. Not important ! What do you say to this ? I 
saw Polly go by with the twins, so now ! 

Pat. Which way ? 

Brownie. Down toward the river. 

El. Didn't you try to stop them ? 

Brownie. What? Me— alone ? What do you take me 
for ? Do you want me to tackle all U. Psi single handed ? 

Enter Pat., hurriedly, l. back. 

Pat. {much excited). Great news! We're saved! We 
have another chance ! 

Nan. What is it ? 

Brownie. Y)o you know something, too? 

El. How did you find out ? 

Pat. I don't know where to begin, I'm so excited ! There 
are three parts to it and all of them are tremendous ! 

Peg. Begin at the beginning. 

Nan. We'll all be quiet if you'll only hurry. 



24 THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Pat. Well, things were in such a frightful mess that I de- 
cided to do a little detective work on my own hook. 

Dot. How brave and noble ! 

Pat. When I got to the picnic I found all the U. Psis in 
the most awful state. It would have done you good to see 
them. (Roars.) 

El. Slop laughing and finish. 

Pat. Minerva, you've saved us. You old brick! Your 
beastly Latin has done it ! Your last exams were all perfect, 
and they've given our average such a boost that the faculty 
can't touch us now. Isn't it great ? 

MiN. Gaudeamus ! 

Pat. You see, it's been between us and U. Psi all the time 
— our scholarship lower — their sorority the newest at Eastern, 
and we've won out ! Oh — aren't you happy? 

(^Embraces MiN.) 

Nan. What about U. Psi ? 

Pat. {turning, one arm still around Min.'s neck). They're 
down and out ! That's the joke. [Puts other artn around 
Min.'s neck and does a few dance steps.) They have just got 
their notice from the faculty. That's what the row was all 
about. They are down and out. Hooray ! Hooray ! 

MiN. {bursting into Latin, carried away with joy). 

'' Quod optanti divum promittere meno 
Auderet, volvenda dies en attulit ultro." 

Pat. {interrupting). Let up ! Save it ! There's more 
news coming, and this part is a perfect scream. {Girls crowd 
around Pat.) Give me air — give me air. {Sweeps them 
aside.) What do you think those fantastic idiotic U. Psis did 
before the faculty ended their futile existence? 

All. What? 

Pat. Why, their last brilliant act was to kick Polly out — 
simply turn her away. Our perfectly good Polly ! 

Nan {indignantly). What for ? 

Brownie {pugnaciously). I'd like to know why ! 

Pat. They heard some fairy tale about why she left 
Western, and would have nothing more to do with her. Their 
fussiness is what Nan would call ''strangely mis-di-rected." 
Eh? 

Nan. Then maybe we can get our Polly back, after all ! 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 25 

Pat. Of course ; that's the jolliest part of the whole racket. 

Char. What ! take thai girl into Nu Pi when even what was 
once U, Psi refused her ? 

Nan. She's still our Polly. 
\ That's right. 

All. >- Of course ! 
) Our Polly ! 

Char, {cuttingly). Come now, take the other Polly in- 
stead. She's not damaged goods, at any rate. 

Peg. I say, let's get both if we can. 

Char. Kindly recall that ** your Polly" has turned us 
down once in a letter which was 

Nan {interrupting). Never mind the letter. It doesn't 
count, for I tore it up immediately. 

Pat. She's probably been sorry twenty times that she 
wrote it. 

El. Anybody makes mistakes. 

Brownie. I'll bet she didn't write it, in the first place. 
Sounded like the U. Psis. 

MiN. When we find her, sisters, she will doubtless be able 
to explain about it satisfactorily. 

Nan. Let's hurry up, find both Pollies, and pledge them 
before anything else happens. 

Char. Do you even know where they are? 

Pat. They're not with the U. Psis at any rate. 

El. Did you look carefully ? 

Pat. I saw every one who was at the picnic. The twins 
had disappeared too. 

El. We must organize searching parties. Some of you go 
down by the river, others toward the station, and the rest 
through the woods. In ten minutes we'll all meet here and 
some of us must bring the Pollies back. Nan, Minerva and 
Brownie would better stay here in case they come back to the 
house for their things. 

{All but Nan, Mm. and Brownie divide into parties and 
go off L., back, c. and front. Nan and Min. sit on 
bench ; Brownie on grotmd.') 

Min. When you saw Polly go off with the twins, you didn't 
foresee such an extraordinary development of affairs, did you, 
Brownie ? 

Brownie. How do you know I didn't ? 



26 1:'HE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Nan. Girls, I wish our Polly liked us as well as we like 
her. 

MiN. I feel certain she must remember our Latin with 
pleasure. One could see it made a great impression on her ! 

Brownie. I'll bet our dinner was better'n their old candy 
pull. 

{Takes 7nore candy out of pocket and sucks it. During 
Brownie's speech Twins have come iii l. and catching 
sight of girls are about to steal away.') 

Nan. If we ever get her again ■ 



Brownie {seeifig Twins and beckoning to them with candy). 
Oh, come on. We won't hurt you, and we know all about it. 

(Twins co77ie back, looking limp and sad.) 

Hen. Who told you ? 
Har. How did you know? 

Nan. Twins, we're so sorry for you. It was even worse 
luck than you deserved. 

(Twins sit on steps of house.) 

Hen. It's all over now. 

Har. And we've only been in college one month ! 

Twins. Our hearts are broken — we're going away. • 

Nan. It wasn't your fault, poor things ; you couldn't spoil 
anything. U. Psi was hopeless. It deserved to be ended. 

MiN. Nihil de mortibus nisi bonum. Nancy, speak not 
harshly of the departed. 

Brownie. You never did seem like U. Psis. What made 
you join them ? 

Twins. We had to join. It was our only invitation. 

Nan. Why were you in such a hurry ? We were going to 
ask you to be Nu Pis, but you pledged U. Psi the very first 
week. 

Brownie. Don't you want to be Nu Pis now? It's never 
too late to do a good thing. 

Twins. We wanted from the first to be Nu Pis. 

Hen. But it is too late now. 

Har. It is too painful here. 

Twins. We must leave Eastern. 

Min. Ah ! The association would be too harrowing for 
your sensitive souls. 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 2'] 

Hen. We'd love to be Nu Pis. 

Har. It was always our ambition. 

Twins. -But we're going to Western. 

Nan. That's where Polly came from ! 

Twins (Jji pained tone). Don't speak to us of Polly. 

Brownie {angrily). You were nice ones, you were I 
{Pause and change of manner.') What did you hear about her, 
anyhow ? 

Hen. She wrote a letter 

Har. One she shouldn't have. 

Twins. And the faculty at Western is looking for her. 

Nan {scornfully). Did you send Polly away for a little 
thing like that ? 

Twins {on the defensive'). But Madge said 

MiN. It is incomprehensible to me why you did not investi- 
gate the matter more thoroughly. Did you not proceed rather 
hastily and unadvisedly ? 

Nan. Even if she had done something awful, why didn't 
you stand by her ? What are sororities for, I'd like to know ! 

Brownie. Who told you the faculty was looking for her ? 

Twins. A stranger — we didn't know her. 

Nan. Did you take the word of some one you didn't even 
know without so much as giving Polly a chance ? 

Hen. Why were we so hasty ? 

Har. We never thought of it that way before. 

Twins. But we'll live a different life at Western. 

Nan. Are you going right away? 

Hen. As soon as we can get packed. 

Har. We are in such a hurry. 

Twins. For we never want to see Madge again. 

(Twins get up from steps.) 

Nan. Where is Polly now ; can't you tell us? 

Hen. She went off with the stranger 

Har. The girl who told us about her. 

Twins. But she'll have to come here for her things. We 
must find the key. {Look around on grou7id.) 

Brownie. Here's your old key. I lighted on it when I 
fell out the window. {Throws it to them.) 

Twins {amazed). Fell — out — our — window! 

Brownie {mocking them). Yes — fell — out — your— window | 

MiN. {hastily). Here come the girls, 



28 THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Efiter all hut the two Follies at l. /;/ moi-e or less confusion. 

Nan. Where are the Follies ? 

Fat. Aren't they here with the twins ? 

El. We thought they'd be together. 

Twins. Is there more tlian one Folly ? 

Fat. There's the Folly you had first. 

Brownie. And the Polly you took away from us. 

Enter the tzoo Follies r., past house. Twins rush to Mary, 
rest to Folly. 

Twins {to Mary). Folly. 
Rest {to Folly). Folly. 

{Divide into tivo camps ; Twins ajid Mary at r. Nu Pi 
and VOLJ.Y at L.) 

El. Let's have some introductions. 

Twins {leading Mary forward).) rj., . . ^r iin.-^^- 

Nan ilead^>i} Vo^v.^ forward). \ ^'^'^ '^ ^^^'"i W^'''''^'^- 

{Every one astonished. Twins and Nan take another step 
forward, still leading the Follies.) 

Nan I (^^^^^^^^^^^<^^^W- '^^^^^ ^s Mary Whittier ! 

(Folly and Mary giggle.) 

Twins. You are introducing the stranger. {Insistently.') 
This is Mary Whittier. 

Brownie. Guess again. We know Polly ! 

Polly. Girls, you must let me explain now what you 
wouldn't before. I am Folly, but not Mary Whittier. 

Char. Something just as good, perhaps? 

Folly. Very nearly ; I am Mary Whittaker. 

Nan. Then you didn't write that letter to me? 

Polly. The other Folly has done all the letter writing that 
has been done lately, and Fve done all the talking. Come, 
Polly, speak for yourself 

Mary. You are Nan Carrington, aren't you? I wrote that 
letter to say I couldn't come to your house party. I sincerely wish 
I'd never written it, and had not stayed when U. Psi urged me. 

All. So do we. 

Twins. You have suffered at the hands of U. Psi too, 
haven't you? 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 2<) 

Mary. It has been hard for us all. I've been suspected 
of all sorts of things, and now I'm going back to Weslern. 
Twins. We are going too. 

(Eac/i take one of Mary's hands.') 

Mary. I've tried sorority friendship, and it has proved 
false. 

Twins. It has betrayed us, too. 

Mary. I thought sorority girls were loyal. 

Polly. You'll find it depends on the sorority. I've had a 
different experience with Nu Pi. 

Nan. There, hear that ! 

Pat. You must all stay here. 

El. And join Nu Pi. 

Peg. Polly says Nu Pi is all right. 

MiN. Let us all be sisters ! 

Mary. Thank you, your cordiality does me good, but Polly 
has made me see how impossible it will be for me to leave 
Western after three years there. 

Twins. We can't stay here where we've been so unhappy, 
even to be Nu Pis. 

Nan. Oh, dear! We can't have the Twins, and we can't 
have the real Mary Whittier. 

Dot (eml)?'acing Polly). But otir Polly 

Char. That reminds me — who is this imitation of Mary 
Whittier, and why did she come to our party uninvited ? 

Polly. I am glad of a chance to explain at last. I've tried 
before, but you wouldn't listen. 

^ Brownie. That's so; you've been trying to explain ever 
since you came. 

Dot. Go on ; we love to hear you talk. 

Char. Does any proof come with your explanation ? 

Nan. Don't mind Charlotte. She isn't ever very anti- 
sceptic. 

Polly. I came to Greenville from Western because I had 
received a letter of farewell from this Polly, and wanted to find 
out what was the matter and take her back to Western. 

Nan. She told you she was coming to our party? 

Polly. Yes, and when you saw me and took it for granted 
that I was Mary, I tried to explain, but finally gave it up as I 
knew Mary must arrive soon and tell you who I was. Mary's 
identification comes late, but she will tell you now. 

Nan. We know who you are. You're Mary Whittaker, 



3© THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Char. What's in a name ? 

Mary. She is Mary Whittaker, instructor on the faculty at 
Western. 

. ") Instructor ! 

^^^' I Faculty ! 

Polly. And I must thank you for entertaining me unawares, 
and leave on the next train. 

MiN. {inspired). Sisters, we must keep Miss Whittaker 
with us. You recall there is a vacancy on the Eastern faculty 
which no doubt she could fill. The Latin department 

Polly. I don't know three words of Latin. Pm only an 
instructor in literature ! 

MiN. {amazed). Veritatem dies aperit ! 

Nan {gleefully). After all you weren't a bit more clever 
than you looked ! 

(Brownie comnie7ices to sob noisily. The girls try to find 
out the trouble and she finally bewails.) 

Brownie. They are all going away, and now we can't have 
any initiation banquet. 

Polly. Come, Mary; come, Twins; get your things and 
we'll start for the station. 

(Twins and Mary go toward house.) 

El. Wait a moment ! I have something to tell you. It 
was to have been a secret till to-morrow, but under the circum- 
stances I feel it will be better to tell you now. 

{All face toivard El.) 

Peg. Why, Eleanor ! 

Nan. Is it anything dreadful ? 

El. No, it's good news, and I think it will resign us to let- 
ting the Western girls leave us. 

Dot. Nothing could do that ! 

El. Wait till you hear. As president of Nu Pi, I have had 
word from the Grand Lodge, very important word. 

Nan. What does that matter now ? 

El. Another chapter of Nu Pi is to be founded. 

Brownie. Who cares ? 

Pat. That doesn't make this any better ! 

Nan. Is that all ? 

El. Not all. The new chapter is to be at Western, anci 
don't you see — - 



THE PLEDGING OF POLLY 

Nan. We can pledge Polly after all ! 
All. Both Follies. 



31 



(All group aroimd the Follies and Twms, joini7tg hands in 
a half circle, as curtain falls, singing the sorority song.^ 



■m-- 






w=w 



MZSL 



:1=W 



---^t^fe^a 



Nu Pi - nu Pi for - ev 

ivr 



^=:M^: 



nu Pi - nu Pi. 






CURTAIN 




^x 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

Iliilillillllilllli 

016 102 504 5 9^ 



